ST. HELENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The winning combination of renowned Napa Valley wine, talented chefs and
stunning scenery inspired bidders from across the country and around the
world to open their hearts and wallets, leaving behind $18.7 million for
healthcare and children’s education nonprofits. The Napa Valley Vintners
(NVV) nonprofit trade association today updated its projected $18.4
million total announced Saturday night, once the final tallies came
across the finish line on Sunday. The ascension to new heights of
success once again demonstrates the position of Auction Napa Valley, the
American Wine Classic, as the world’s most celebrated charity wine event.

“It wasn’t just us who did this,” commented Jeff Gargiulo of Gargiulo
Vineyards who, along with his wife Valerie, was one of the honorary
co-chairs of the 2014 event. “It was the more than 1,000 Napa Valley
vintners, chef teams, donors and volunteers who contributed to
Saturday’s Live Auction Celebration who made it happen. Because of their
hard work and generosity, our sweet home Napa Valley became $18.7
million sweeter for thousands in the community who will benefit from
Auction Napa Valley proceeds.”

Napa Valley’s collaborative spirit of neighbors helping neighbors was
shared with guests throughout the weekend’s festivities, which started
with Thursday night’s welcome parties, where the casual camaraderie of
Napa Valley vintners shone. The fun continued through Friday’s Napa
Valley Barrel Auction at the historic and recently renovated Charles
Krug Winery and flowed through to intimate dinners at vintners’ homes
and wineries that night. The excitement culminated with the Live Auction
Celebration on Saturday. For people around the world who could not be in
Napa Valley, an E-Auction of more than 175 lots lasted a week, starting
June 1 and closed today at noon.

The crescendo of the weekend was Saturday’s Live Auction, consisting of
50 one-of-a-kind lots showcasing the allure of Napa Valley wines,
extraordinary adventures and objects of desire. As the thrill of bidding
streaked across the iconic white tent, several NVV members spontaneously
increased their already generous auction lots to include additional
successful bidders who wanted in on the action. In total, seven lots
were doubled on Saturday afternoon, helping to contribute to the overall
Auction total.

At the end of the Live Auction, the Gargiulos, along with honorary
co-chairs David Duncan of Silver Oak and Twomey Cellars and his wife,
Dr. Kary Duncan, took the stage to make an appeal for Fund-A-Need, the
lot that has no wine, no hospitality or trips associated with it – only
the satisfaction that comes from making a difference in the lives of
children in need.

Dr. Duncan, who in addition to her medical practice is also the board
chair of Clinic Ole Community Health Center, the only nonprofit
community health center in Napa County and the Auction’s top funding
recipient. “Clinic Ole is the primary source of medical services for one
in six Napa County residents,” noted Dr. Duncan. “It impacts almost
everyone in our community in one way or another and these services would
not be as widely available without Auction funding.”

Dr. Duncan’s words clearly resonated with the audience, as the
Fund-A-Need lot drew an emotional response from bidders in increments
from $1,000 to $1 million. The online version of Fund-A-Need allowed
bidders from anywhere in the world to contribute, with donations
starting at $30. In total, 100 bidders contributed to the in-person and
online Fund-A-Need lots bringing $3.8 million to the fundraising total,
which will support early intervention and prevention of the most
pressing issues facing Napa County youth.

“We are amazed and humbled by the beyond-our-dreams results of this
year’s Auction Napa Valley,” said Linda Reiff, president and CEO of the
NVV, “and we are deeply grateful for the abundance we have been
entrusted with. Imagining the difference these funds will make to our
most vulnerable residents is a gift for which we thank each and every
person who in some way contributed to the magic.”

Saturday’s culinary showcase, including the finale dinner, was guided by
The Restaurant at Meadowood’s executive chef, Christopher Kostow and
celebrated the interconnected community of Napa Valley winemakers,
farmers, foragers, hunters, millers and purveyors. “It was wonderful to
work with my fellow Napa Valley chefs and friends for such an amazing
celebration of our community, while bringing awareness to local causes.
To have played even a small part in such an auspicious event was such an
honor,” noted Chef Kostow, the thoughtful recipient of three Michelin
stars and a recent James Beard Award.

Food born of same terroir as Napa Valley’s well-cultivated wine grapes
and crafted by local chefs played a central role in the sense of place
shared throughout the weekend. The fairway at Meadowood Napa Valley, the
host of Saturday’s Live Auction since the event’s inception in 1981,
provided a lush backdrop for a casual lunch composed by an all-star
gathering of Napa Valley chefs.

Now, to the numbers:

Napa Valley Barrel Auction

The NVV is attributing some of the financial success of Friday’s Napa
Valley Barrel Auction to a new mobile app that allowed bidders to stay
in on the action while strolling the outdoor marketplace, sipping Napa
Valley wines and savoring light bites prepared by local chefs and
purveyors. Nearly 400 guests used the new technology to secure cases of
Napa Valley wine, primarily from the much-heralded 2012 vintage. Top
lots included:

BRAND Napa Valley $83,050

Shafer Vineyards $55,200

Continuum Estate $52,750

Gargiulo Vineyards $51,400

Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery $46,400

TOR Kenward Family Wines $39,850

Joseph Phelps Vineyards $34,300

Cardinale $33,800

Stone The Crows $31,650

Kongsgaard $30,750

Live Auction Celebration

The centerpiece of Auction Napa Valley was the Live Auction where guests
enjoyed the thrill of bidding on – and winning – extraordinary,
once-in-a-lifetime lots of wine, dining, travel, art and truly
“ultimate” experiences. Top lots included:

Auction Napa Valley is the NVV's annual community fundraiser that for
more than 30 years has utilized the worldwide reputation of Napa Valley
wines and the scenic beauty of the region to raise funds to enhance the
health and wellbeing of the Napa Valley community. To date, the NVV has
invested more than $120 million from Auction Napa Valley proceeds in
Napa County nonprofit organizations.

About the Napa Valley Vintners

The Napa Valley Vintners nonprofit trade association has been
cultivating excellence for 70 years by inspiring its 500 members to
produce consistent quality wines, provide environmental leadership and
care for the extraordinary place they call home. Learn more at napavintners.com.

B-roll and sample recipes from Auction Napa Valley available upon
request.